"The Trail of Tears," 1942 painting by Robert Lindneux depicting the
Cherokee removal to the west. The Granger Collection.

Jackson's Rise

Jackson's first strike against the Seminoles devastated all of the
southeastern tribes. In May, 1830, Jackson signed
the Indian Removal Act, the notorious law forcing eastern tribes to relocate to a new Indian Territory out west. Thousands of Native Americans died on the subsequent forced marches, known collectively as the "Trail of Tears."
The process of removing the Seminoles began in 1832.